Abhas Verma's Blog
June 24, 2020
Jai Jagannatha by Marathas
In 1692 A.D. Aurangzeb the Moghul Emperor issued an order to destroy the temple of Lord Jagannath. At that time Divyasingha Deva was the king of Khurda. Ekram Khan was the Nawab of Orissa who waged this invasion on the temple with the help of his brother Mastram Khan. The Nawab entered the temple and climbed to the - golden throne of Jagannath. The treasure of the temple was looted. The King was unable to face the invader hidden in an unknown place. Lord Jagannath was hidden behind the‘Bimala Temple’ in the precinct of the Srimandir. The triad were shifted one after another to ‘Maa Bhagabati Temple’ at Gadakokal located at Brahmagiri block. As per records of the‘Madalapanji’ the Bije- pratima (Representatives of Lords) were transferred to Gadakokal. Then the deities were shifted to Bada Hantuada in Banpur across the Chilika Lake. The deities were returned to Puri in 1699 A.D. This was the sixteenth invasion on the temple of Lord Jagannath . Muhammad Taqi Khan became Naib Nazim (Deputy Subedar) of Orissa from A.D.1727 to 1734. During his time he invaded the temple of Jagannath for two times in 1731 A.D. and 1733 A.D. He invaded the temple with iconoclastic zeal. He invaded to demolish the temple, desecrate the God and plundered its treasure. So the servitors removed the idols to Hariswar in Banpur, Chikili in Khalikote,Rumagarh in Kodala, Athagada in Ganjam and finally to Marda of Kodala. Kodala located in Athagada region considered as a safe place for the idols as this place was under the rule of Nizam of Hyderabad and not of Moghuls. Marda itself was situated inside a dense forest and hills. So the place was invincible for the invaders. The ruler of Athagada Jagannath Harichandan Jagadev had strong family relation with the Gajapati rulers of Khurda. The idols were kept at Marda from 29.12.1733 to 31.12.1736. At Marda a beautiful temple was hastily constructed and arrangement was made for all the rituals of Lord Jagannath. Even it is believed that the Rath Yatra was held here with full vigour.
The Expeditions in Bengal was taken by the Maratha Empire after the successful campaign in Carnatic at the Battle of Trichinopoly. The leader of the expedition was Maratha Raghuji Bhonsle of Nagpur. Over a period of 10 years, Alivardy Khan came under repeated attack from Raghuji Bhosale’s armies. Finally, in 1751, the Nawab of Bengal agreed to give away the territory of Orissa to Nagpur, as well as the annual chauth of 12 lakh rupees from Bengal.It was from this point that the temple of Jagannath in Puri came within the administrative purview of the Marathas. The King Birakishore Deva was frightened with the Maratha Bargis. So Maratha Dewan Bahadur Khan wrote a letter to the King in 1752 A.D. with the assurance that no invasion would be launched on the Jagannath temple during the Maratha rule. The servitors should continue worship of the deities as usual without fear. It was the direction of the Maratha Dewan to King Birakishore Deva.
The first two Governors under Marathas were Muslims. In 1760, Sheo Bhatt Sathe became the first Maratha Subahdar till 1764. When the Marathas under Sheo Bhatt assumed direct administration of Odisha, Jagannath Narayan Dev, the Raja of Parlakhemundi of Odisha claimed to be the legitimate descendent of Imperial Gangas. Birakeshari sought the assistance of the Marathas to drive out the invader and promised to pay them rupees one lakh for such assistance. But Birakeshari failed to pay the stipulated sum and instead, gave four mahals or parganas to the Marathas. He not only lost four parganas but also the control over the management of the Jagannath temple, situated in one of such parganas. As Mr. Kulke has stated “The Rajas of Khurda seem to have retained only a nominal position as Gajapatis in the Jagannath cult the control over the Jagannath cult had passed completely into the hands of group of temple administrators which were appointed by the Marathas”. As the Maratha rulers were Hindus, they guarded the interests of the temple. During the Maratha rule the temple administration was supervised under the direction of the Raja of Khurda. The sources of income of the temple were the revenue collected from the "Satais Hazari Mahal" town duties and the sale of the Lord's sacred food Mahaprasad. The Satais Hazari Mahal- a vast area of landed property was donated by Raghuji Bhonsle of Nagpur in order to meet day-to-day expenditure of Lord Jagannath. In the beginning the financial management was very satisfactory. But with the passage of time, the revenue from the Satais Hazari Mahal was not collected in proper way. The Parichhas in that period were engaged in corrupt practice and had earned money in illegal way. No proper account was kept in the temple office in this regard. So Maratha Govt. was providing extra amount for proper management of Jagannath temple because of insincerity of the Parichhas at the time of the Maratha rule. The management of the Jagannath temple was vested on the hands of Parichhas. MarathaGovt. gave appointment four Parichhas with specific duties for the better management of Jagannath temple. First and third Parichhas were the Marathas and the second one was theman of local. He was called Jagannath Rajguru and also holding the right for the post of Deula Parichha. The third Parichha was known as Satais Hazari Parichha. His duty was to collect revenue from the Satais Hazari Mahals. The king of Daspalla supplied the log to Maratha Govt. Free of cost for the construction of chariots. So the king of Daspalla was exemptedfrom paying any tribute to Maratha Govt. The Parichhas became corrupted as a result the Maratha Govt. had to pay additional amount to meet the deficiency that occurred in the temple treasury. The Maratha Government recouped the money spent on the temple by continuing the pilgrim tax,which was imposed by the Muslims. The Maratha Govt. also imposed a tax on Parichhas in order to makeup the loss. 
During the time of Maratha Subahadar Rajaram Pandit (1778-1793), Birakeshari Dev became mad and murdered four of his sons. The Subahdar imprisoned him in Barabati fort at Cuttack. His son Dibyasingha Dev-II was made Raja of Khurda on the condition that an annual tribute to the tune of rupees would be paid to the Marathas by him. During the time of Birakeshari many new temples were constructed and old ones renovated in the State. The Jagannath temple was again lime-plastered. The Ratnavedi of the temple was renovated. A small statute of Birakeshari is found in the front side wall of the Ratnavedi. Also has been inscribed there.
The Expeditions in Bengal was taken by the Maratha Empire after the successful campaign in Carnatic at the Battle of Trichinopoly. The leader of the expedition was Maratha Raghuji Bhonsle of Nagpur. Over a period of 10 years, Alivardy Khan came under repeated attack from Raghuji Bhosale’s armies. Finally, in 1751, the Nawab of Bengal agreed to give away the territory of Orissa to Nagpur, as well as the annual chauth of 12 lakh rupees from Bengal.It was from this point that the temple of Jagannath in Puri came within the administrative purview of the Marathas. The King Birakishore Deva was frightened with the Maratha Bargis. So Maratha Dewan Bahadur Khan wrote a letter to the King in 1752 A.D. with the assurance that no invasion would be launched on the Jagannath temple during the Maratha rule. The servitors should continue worship of the deities as usual without fear. It was the direction of the Maratha Dewan to King Birakishore Deva.
The first two Governors under Marathas were Muslims. In 1760, Sheo Bhatt Sathe became the first Maratha Subahdar till 1764. When the Marathas under Sheo Bhatt assumed direct administration of Odisha, Jagannath Narayan Dev, the Raja of Parlakhemundi of Odisha claimed to be the legitimate descendent of Imperial Gangas. Birakeshari sought the assistance of the Marathas to drive out the invader and promised to pay them rupees one lakh for such assistance. But Birakeshari failed to pay the stipulated sum and instead, gave four mahals or parganas to the Marathas. He not only lost four parganas but also the control over the management of the Jagannath temple, situated in one of such parganas. As Mr. Kulke has stated “The Rajas of Khurda seem to have retained only a nominal position as Gajapatis in the Jagannath cult the control over the Jagannath cult had passed completely into the hands of group of temple administrators which were appointed by the Marathas”. As the Maratha rulers were Hindus, they guarded the interests of the temple. During the Maratha rule the temple administration was supervised under the direction of the Raja of Khurda. The sources of income of the temple were the revenue collected from the "Satais Hazari Mahal" town duties and the sale of the Lord's sacred food Mahaprasad. The Satais Hazari Mahal- a vast area of landed property was donated by Raghuji Bhonsle of Nagpur in order to meet day-to-day expenditure of Lord Jagannath. In the beginning the financial management was very satisfactory. But with the passage of time, the revenue from the Satais Hazari Mahal was not collected in proper way. The Parichhas in that period were engaged in corrupt practice and had earned money in illegal way. No proper account was kept in the temple office in this regard. So Maratha Govt. was providing extra amount for proper management of Jagannath temple because of insincerity of the Parichhas at the time of the Maratha rule. The management of the Jagannath temple was vested on the hands of Parichhas. MarathaGovt. gave appointment four Parichhas with specific duties for the better management of Jagannath temple. First and third Parichhas were the Marathas and the second one was theman of local. He was called Jagannath Rajguru and also holding the right for the post of Deula Parichha. The third Parichha was known as Satais Hazari Parichha. His duty was to collect revenue from the Satais Hazari Mahals. The king of Daspalla supplied the log to Maratha Govt. Free of cost for the construction of chariots. So the king of Daspalla was exemptedfrom paying any tribute to Maratha Govt. The Parichhas became corrupted as a result the Maratha Govt. had to pay additional amount to meet the deficiency that occurred in the temple treasury. The Maratha Government recouped the money spent on the temple by continuing the pilgrim tax,which was imposed by the Muslims. The Maratha Govt. also imposed a tax on Parichhas in order to makeup the loss. During the time of Maratha Subahadar Rajaram Pandit (1778-1793), Birakeshari Dev became mad and murdered four of his sons. The Subahdar imprisoned him in Barabati fort at Cuttack. His son Dibyasingha Dev-II was made Raja of Khurda on the condition that an annual tribute to the tune of rupees would be paid to the Marathas by him. During the time of Birakeshari many new temples were constructed and old ones renovated in the State. The Jagannath temple was again lime-plastered. The Ratnavedi of the temple was renovated. A small statute of Birakeshari is found in the front side wall of the Ratnavedi. Also has been inscribed there.
January 7, 2020
Tanaji Malusure and capture of Kondana Fort
Of all the forts surrendered to Jay Sinh the most important was doubtless Sinhagad, for it was looked upon as the capital of the western regions; and a key in the hands of those who had to govern them. Purandar ranked next to it. That is why Jay Sinh had insisted that Sinhagad should be the first to be
handed over by Shivaji personally. He had after his visit to Jay Sinh in June 1665 personally delivered the fort to Kirat Sinh. The fort was now most strongly held by a trusted and valiant Mughal commander named Uday Bhan Rathod. No other fort was so well protected both by man and nature and
now strongly guarded by the Mughals. He who possessed Sinhagad was the master of Poona.
There is evidence to show that Shivaji himself thought Sinhagad impregnable. He was, however, egged on to the venture by his mother Jija Bai in whose mind the public insult of the demolition of Kashivishveshwar was bitterly rankling.
The ballad of Sinhagad says, when she found Shivaji hesitating on the question of retaking Sinhagad, which practically meant a sacrifice of some of his best soldiers and a challenge to the Emperor, she insisted on playing with him a game at dice and the wager was to be the capture of this fort. She demanded
that if Shivaji lost the game he must pay the price. If he refused, she threatened him with a curse upon his newly erected raj,—a mother’s curse ! What was Shivaji to do ?“ Shivaji certainly wanted the fort back, but believed that an attack on it would unnecessarily plunge him into a deadly war with the Emperor, which had been to some extent happily closed. He well knew that the fort could not be taken by any other means than by his brave soldiers scaling the walls by means of rope-ladders stealthily walking in and opening the main gates, through which the storming party could rush in. Sinhagad is the only fort not vulnerable to artillery : there is no room where guns could be brought into position for a bombardment of it. All the sides are steep, upon one of which a narrow path now leads to the main gate for communication with the outside world. The difficulty was removed by Jija Bai who called in Tanaji Malusre, Shivaji’s dearest comrade and his brother Suryaji and prepared them for the venture with all the arts of motherly affection.
On the dark night of Magh 9 (4 February 1670) when the moon rose after midnight, Tanaji made the attempt, succeeded in capturing the fort but lost his life. With about 300 Mavlas he arrived at the fort after nightfall. A large number headed by Suryaji remained concealed near the main gate and Tanaji himself with his selected followers scaled the walls by means of an iguana and opened the gates by putting to the sword the few sentries that came out to oppose him. But all this could not be accomplished without making a noise. The guards were roused, an alarm was given and the commandant himself came out determined to defend the place to the last.
A sanguinmy action ensued in which both sides lost heavily including their leaders Tanaji and Uday Bhanu. The fort was captured and a huge bonfire announced the result to Shivaji at Rajgad. Next morning the dead body of Tanaji arrived in a palanquin to be received by Shivaji and Jija Bai, who grieved
for the loss with poignant anguish. The fort had been recovered, but the lion Tanaji was no more.'
Tanaji’s exploit is annually commemorated at the fort, which is practically still in tact in its original grandeur. Jija Bai at once sent for Tulsidas, a professional bard from Poona, and asked him to compose a ballad which sang in touching strains the valour and sacrifice of Tanaji Malusre. Shivaji amply rewarded the relatives of those who had fallen. Tulsidas'ballad is still recited in stirring accents to thousands of listeners whose hearts are passionately moved to strong sentiments of pathos and patriotism.
handed over by Shivaji personally. He had after his visit to Jay Sinh in June 1665 personally delivered the fort to Kirat Sinh. The fort was now most strongly held by a trusted and valiant Mughal commander named Uday Bhan Rathod. No other fort was so well protected both by man and nature and
now strongly guarded by the Mughals. He who possessed Sinhagad was the master of Poona.
There is evidence to show that Shivaji himself thought Sinhagad impregnable. He was, however, egged on to the venture by his mother Jija Bai in whose mind the public insult of the demolition of Kashivishveshwar was bitterly rankling.
The ballad of Sinhagad says, when she found Shivaji hesitating on the question of retaking Sinhagad, which practically meant a sacrifice of some of his best soldiers and a challenge to the Emperor, she insisted on playing with him a game at dice and the wager was to be the capture of this fort. She demanded
that if Shivaji lost the game he must pay the price. If he refused, she threatened him with a curse upon his newly erected raj,—a mother’s curse ! What was Shivaji to do ?“ Shivaji certainly wanted the fort back, but believed that an attack on it would unnecessarily plunge him into a deadly war with the Emperor, which had been to some extent happily closed. He well knew that the fort could not be taken by any other means than by his brave soldiers scaling the walls by means of rope-ladders stealthily walking in and opening the main gates, through which the storming party could rush in. Sinhagad is the only fort not vulnerable to artillery : there is no room where guns could be brought into position for a bombardment of it. All the sides are steep, upon one of which a narrow path now leads to the main gate for communication with the outside world. The difficulty was removed by Jija Bai who called in Tanaji Malusre, Shivaji’s dearest comrade and his brother Suryaji and prepared them for the venture with all the arts of motherly affection.
On the dark night of Magh 9 (4 February 1670) when the moon rose after midnight, Tanaji made the attempt, succeeded in capturing the fort but lost his life. With about 300 Mavlas he arrived at the fort after nightfall. A large number headed by Suryaji remained concealed near the main gate and Tanaji himself with his selected followers scaled the walls by means of an iguana and opened the gates by putting to the sword the few sentries that came out to oppose him. But all this could not be accomplished without making a noise. The guards were roused, an alarm was given and the commandant himself came out determined to defend the place to the last.
A sanguinmy action ensued in which both sides lost heavily including their leaders Tanaji and Uday Bhanu. The fort was captured and a huge bonfire announced the result to Shivaji at Rajgad. Next morning the dead body of Tanaji arrived in a palanquin to be received by Shivaji and Jija Bai, who grieved
for the loss with poignant anguish. The fort had been recovered, but the lion Tanaji was no more.'
Tanaji’s exploit is annually commemorated at the fort, which is practically still in tact in its original grandeur. Jija Bai at once sent for Tulsidas, a professional bard from Poona, and asked him to compose a ballad which sang in touching strains the valour and sacrifice of Tanaji Malusre. Shivaji amply rewarded the relatives of those who had fallen. Tulsidas'ballad is still recited in stirring accents to thousands of listeners whose hearts are passionately moved to strong sentiments of pathos and patriotism.
November 20, 2019
Abdali's Letter to Madho singh describing the Battle of Panipat
Abdali himself wrote a letter to Raja Madho Singh of Jaipur providing him the details of the Battle " The flame of fighting blazed up and raged on all sides. The enemy too distinguished themselves and fought so well, that it was beyond the capacity of other races. Gradually the fighting passed from the exchange of cannon and rocketfire to the
discharge of muskets, from which it proceeded to the stage of combat with swords, daggers and knives. They grasped each other by the neck.
Those dauntless bloodshedders ( the Marathas) did not fall short in fighting and doing glorious deeds. Suddenly the breeze of victory began to blow and as willed by the Divine Lord the wretched Deccanis suffered utter defeat. Vishwasrao and the Bhau who had been fighting in front of my Wazir were slain and many other Sardars also on their
side fell. Ibrahim Khan Gardi and his brothers were captured wounded. Bapu Pandit (Hingne) was taken prisoner. Forty to fifty thousand troopers and infantry men of the enemy became as grass before our pitiless swords. It is not known whether Malhar and Janko have been slain or what else has happened to them. All the enemy's artillery, elephants and property have been seized by my men"
This letter was published by J.N. Sarkar in the Modern Review, May, 1946
discharge of muskets, from which it proceeded to the stage of combat with swords, daggers and knives. They grasped each other by the neck.
Those dauntless bloodshedders ( the Marathas) did not fall short in fighting and doing glorious deeds. Suddenly the breeze of victory began to blow and as willed by the Divine Lord the wretched Deccanis suffered utter defeat. Vishwasrao and the Bhau who had been fighting in front of my Wazir were slain and many other Sardars also on their
side fell. Ibrahim Khan Gardi and his brothers were captured wounded. Bapu Pandit (Hingne) was taken prisoner. Forty to fifty thousand troopers and infantry men of the enemy became as grass before our pitiless swords. It is not known whether Malhar and Janko have been slain or what else has happened to them. All the enemy's artillery, elephants and property have been seized by my men"
This letter was published by J.N. Sarkar in the Modern Review, May, 1946
November 12, 2019
Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao also known as Nana Saheb
Balaji Baji Rao (December 8, 1720 – June 23, 1761), also known as Nana Saheb, was a Peshwa (prime minister) of the Maratha Empire in India. After Baji Rao died in April 1740, Chhatrapati Shahu appointed 19-year old Balaji as the Peshwa in August 1740, despite opposition from other chiefs such as Shahu's own relative Raghoji I Bhonsle.The Maratha noblewoman Tarabai was the head of a family that was a rival claimant to the Chhatrapati title. Originally a rival of Chhatrapati Shahu, she later pretended reconciliation with him. In the 1740s, during the last years of Shahu's life, Tarabai brought a child to him: Rajaram II. She presented the child as her grandson, and thus, a direct descendant of Shivaji. Shahu adopted the child, and after his death in 1749, Rajaram II succeeded him as the Chhatrapati.The next year, Peshwa Balaji Rao left to fight against the Nizam of Hyderabad. In his absence, Tarabai urged Rajaram II to remove him from the post of Peshwa. When Rajaram refused, she imprisoned him in a dungeon at Satara, on 24 November 1750. She claimed that he was an impostor, and that she had falsely presented him as her grandson. Tarabai was unsuccessful in getting support from other ministers and the Nizam Salabat Jung. However, she managed to enlist the help of another noblewoman, Umabai Dabhade.Umabai was the matriarch of the Dabhade family, whose members held the title of senapati (commander-in-chief) and controlled several territories in Gujarat. Her husband had been killed by the Mughals, and her eldest son had been killed by Balaji Rao's father for a rebellion against Chhatrapati Shahu. However, Shahu had forgiven the Dabhades and allowed them to retain their jagirs and titles on the condition that they would remit half of the revenues collected from Gujarat to his treasury. Umabai's minor son Yashwant Rao was made the titular senapati, while she held the actual executive power in Maratha territories of Gujarat. The Dabhades never actually shared any revenues, but Shahu did not want to take any action against a grieving mother. However, after Shahu's death Peshwa Balaji Rao faced an empty treasury and pressurized the Dabhades to share Gujarat revenues as per the agreement. Umabai personally met him in 1750 and argued that the agreement was void because the Dabhades had signed it under force. The Peshwa refused to entertain this argument.
The Gaekwads were originally lieutenants of the Dabhade family.Pilaji, and after his death in 1732, Damaji held the actual military power as Yashwant Rao was a minor. Even as he grew up, Yashwant Rao got addicted to alcohol and opium, and Damaji gradually increased his power during this time.In May 1751, the Peshwa arrested Damaji Gaekwad and his relatives, and sent them to Pune. Sometime later, the Dabhades were also arrested, and deprived of their jagirs and titles. In March 1752, Damaji finally agreed to join Balaji Rao. In return, he was made the Maratha chief of Gujarat, and Balaji Rao offered him assistance in expelling the Mughals from Gujarat. Gaekwad promised to pay an annual tribute of ₹ 525,000 to Peshwa in addition to a one-time payment of ₹ 1,500,000. He was also asked to maintain a cavalry of 20,000 horses in service of the Peshwa.
During Baji Rao's tenure, the Mughals had nominally granted the Malwa to the Marathas, but the control was not actually passed to the Marathas. After becoming Peshwa, Balaji Rao approached the Mughal emperor through Jai Singh II, and managed to get appointed as the Deputy Governor of Malwa (with Ahmad Shah as the titular Governor). In return, he pledged faithfulness to the Mughal emperor. He also agreed to keep a force of 500 soldiers at the emperor's court, in addition to providing a force of 4,000 soldiers on a need basis.
In 1748, Javed Khan, a rival of the Mughal wazir Safdarjung invited the new Nizam of Hyderabad Nasir Jung, to join an alliance against the wazir. Safdarjung requested Maratha support against Nasir Jung. Balaji Rao dispatched Scindia and Holkar chiefs to prevent Nasir Jung from reaching Delhi, and thus, saved Safdarjung.
Starting in 1748, the Afghan king Ahmad Shah Durrani (Abdali) launched several invasions of India, forcing the Mughals to seek Maratha help. In 1752, the Rohillas of the Doab region rebelled against the Mughal emperor. They defeated Safdarjung in a battle, and invited Durrani to invade India. Once again, Safdarjung sought assistance from the Marathas, who helped him crush the rebellion. The Marathas and the Mughals signed an agreement in 1752. The Marathas agreed to help the Mughals defeat external aggressions as well as internal rebellions. The Mughals agreed to appoint Peshwa Balaji Rao as the Governor of Ajmer and Agra. The Marathas were also granted the right to collect chauth from Lahore, Multan, Sindh, and some districts of Hissar and Moradabad. However, the Mughal emperor had also ceded Lahore and Multan to Ahmad Shah Durrani in order to pacify him. In addition, he did not ratify the transfer of Rajput-ruled territories like Ajmer to the Marathas. This brought the Marathas in conflict with Durranis as well as Rajputs.The defeat at Panipat resulted in heavy losses for the Marathas, and was a huge setback for Peshwa Balaji Rao. He received the news of the defeat Panipat on 24 January 1761 at Bhilsa, while leading a reinforcement force. Besides several important generals, he had lost his own son Vishwasrao in the Battle of Panipat. He died on 23 June 1761, and was succeeded by his younger son Madhav Rao I. Incidentally, Nanasaheb Peshwa, four months prior to his death, married a girl who was 8 or 9 years old.
The Gaekwads were originally lieutenants of the Dabhade family.Pilaji, and after his death in 1732, Damaji held the actual military power as Yashwant Rao was a minor. Even as he grew up, Yashwant Rao got addicted to alcohol and opium, and Damaji gradually increased his power during this time.In May 1751, the Peshwa arrested Damaji Gaekwad and his relatives, and sent them to Pune. Sometime later, the Dabhades were also arrested, and deprived of their jagirs and titles. In March 1752, Damaji finally agreed to join Balaji Rao. In return, he was made the Maratha chief of Gujarat, and Balaji Rao offered him assistance in expelling the Mughals from Gujarat. Gaekwad promised to pay an annual tribute of ₹ 525,000 to Peshwa in addition to a one-time payment of ₹ 1,500,000. He was also asked to maintain a cavalry of 20,000 horses in service of the Peshwa.
During Baji Rao's tenure, the Mughals had nominally granted the Malwa to the Marathas, but the control was not actually passed to the Marathas. After becoming Peshwa, Balaji Rao approached the Mughal emperor through Jai Singh II, and managed to get appointed as the Deputy Governor of Malwa (with Ahmad Shah as the titular Governor). In return, he pledged faithfulness to the Mughal emperor. He also agreed to keep a force of 500 soldiers at the emperor's court, in addition to providing a force of 4,000 soldiers on a need basis.
In 1748, Javed Khan, a rival of the Mughal wazir Safdarjung invited the new Nizam of Hyderabad Nasir Jung, to join an alliance against the wazir. Safdarjung requested Maratha support against Nasir Jung. Balaji Rao dispatched Scindia and Holkar chiefs to prevent Nasir Jung from reaching Delhi, and thus, saved Safdarjung.
Starting in 1748, the Afghan king Ahmad Shah Durrani (Abdali) launched several invasions of India, forcing the Mughals to seek Maratha help. In 1752, the Rohillas of the Doab region rebelled against the Mughal emperor. They defeated Safdarjung in a battle, and invited Durrani to invade India. Once again, Safdarjung sought assistance from the Marathas, who helped him crush the rebellion. The Marathas and the Mughals signed an agreement in 1752. The Marathas agreed to help the Mughals defeat external aggressions as well as internal rebellions. The Mughals agreed to appoint Peshwa Balaji Rao as the Governor of Ajmer and Agra. The Marathas were also granted the right to collect chauth from Lahore, Multan, Sindh, and some districts of Hissar and Moradabad. However, the Mughal emperor had also ceded Lahore and Multan to Ahmad Shah Durrani in order to pacify him. In addition, he did not ratify the transfer of Rajput-ruled territories like Ajmer to the Marathas. This brought the Marathas in conflict with Durranis as well as Rajputs.The defeat at Panipat resulted in heavy losses for the Marathas, and was a huge setback for Peshwa Balaji Rao. He received the news of the defeat Panipat on 24 January 1761 at Bhilsa, while leading a reinforcement force. Besides several important generals, he had lost his own son Vishwasrao in the Battle of Panipat. He died on 23 June 1761, and was succeeded by his younger son Madhav Rao I. Incidentally, Nanasaheb Peshwa, four months prior to his death, married a girl who was 8 or 9 years old.
July 3, 2018
Vinchurkars of Nasik
The Vinchurkar family was founded by a Deshastra Brahman named Vithal Shivdev .They were originally Danis of Saswada doing duty as recorders of grain and accepting a portion of the same as their Vatan. Vinchur became their city of residence and later a princely state with more than 48 villages in Nashik,few in Pune in its Jagir. The annual revenue in 1750s was more than 48 lacks.
Vithal Shivdev was born in the year 1695 to Shivajipant . Shivajipant had three sons Aburao, Trinibakrao, and Vithal Shivdev, among these three Vithal Shivdev was the youngest . Vithal Shivdev had five sons , 4 from his first wife Rakhamabai, daughter of the Kulkarni of Kenjal and the 5th from his second wife, Yamanabai of Kalpi. The names of the five respectively were Shivaji Vithal, Narsinghrao Vithal, Malharrao Vithal , Bajirao Vithal and Khanderao Vithal.
Shivaji Vithal was the most beloved son of his father. According to the father's fond belief, Shivaji had brought good luck to him ever since his birth. He was short in stature and dark in complexion; but he had a generous, forgiving, and kindly nature. Even during his father's lifetime, he had wrested from the Nizam's possession Ankai, Rajdar and other forts. Shivaji Vithal succeeded his father . He accompanied Biniwale, Sindhia and Tukoji Holkar in the campaign to North India in 1769 . On his return, his health sank completely and he died in 1794.
Thus the ancestral estates and the title-deeds of the household passed on to Khanderao Vithal. Khanderao Vithal was invested with the Sardar's dignity of the Vinhoorkar family. Khanderao Vithal was a of tall stature, his complexion was fair to look upon and he looked a beautiful person. He did not lived long and died soon after he assumed the dignity of the household.Narsingh Khanderao son of Khanderao Vithal succeeded his father at the tender age of 12.
It was during the minority of Narsingh Khanderao that young Sawai Madhavarao met his woeful end in 1795 , he died without an heir. A power struggle ensued among the Maratha nobles for control of the Confederacy. The powerful general Daulat Rao Scindia and minister Nana Phadnavis installed Baji Rao II as a Peshwa.After the death of Phadnavis in 1800, Daulat Rao Scindia took complete control over the Peshwa's government. As Scindia started eliminating his rivals within the government, Peshwa Baji Rao II became concerned about his own safety. He turned to British resident Colonel William Palmer for help. Baji Rao II concluded the Treaty of Bassein in December 1802, in which the British agreed to reinstate Baji Rao II as Peshwa, in return for allowing in Maratha territory- a force of 6000 infantry troops complete with guns and officered by British, paying for its maintenance and accepting the stationing of a permanent British political agent (Resident) at Pune. Holkar and Sindhia resisted the British intrusion in Maratha affairs, which resulted in the Second Anglo-Maratha War of 1803-1805.
Narsingh Khanderao died without leaving an heir behind him. So the well-wishers and the old servants of the House found themselves face to face with adoption, the only expedient which would keep the family name and estates in tact.
The choice fell upon the son of Gopal Parshuram aged 10. Bajirao II examined the boy personally and being satisfied with him ordered the adoption to take place. To her adopted son, Keshavrao, his mother Ramabai gave a different name. She called him after the founder of the family, Vithal Shivdev. So he became famous in history as Vithal Narsinh.( Lord Narsinh being the family deity of Vinchurkar family .His name was used by many many member of this family)
Vithal Narsinh was asked to put down the rebellion of Trimbakji Dengale. This Dengale too was one of the unworthy favourites of Bajirao II ; but he had offended the English who had him placed under restraint. He managed, however, to make his escape and gathered about him a following of
Bhils, Arabs and Rohillas. It did not take Vithal Narsinh long to destroy the following of Dengale; but the man himself escaped. His residence, however, and property at Nimbgaon in Ahmednagar District was taken away.Vinchurkars fought on the side of Peshwa Bajirao II in Third Anglo-Maratha War
Vithal Narsingh had to put down another impudent robber by name Shurpakarna. He was a Bania by caste, but his venturesome deeds had become the talk of the country. Vithal Narsingh destroyed his following and cut him down in person.
Vithal Narsingh made some valuable additions to the ancient temple at Narsingpore built by his noble ancestor. Also he tried to remove the inconvenience of water from which the city suffered. He had water-works built at considerable cost to the west of the city ; but he did not survive to see them completed . He died in 1836 at the age of 41, leaving behind him 3 sons Raghunathrao , Krishnarao and Madhavrao and 3 daughters.
Raghunathrao the eldest son of Vithal Narsingh was born in 1824 . At the age of three his mother died and a year after his marriage in 1835, his father died. In 1838 he had his brother Krishnarao married.Raghunathrao was given the power to decide civil suits from, which there could be no appeal. He was allowed to have stamp-paper of his own signature and was further allowed to add the income of the same to his own treasury. After a time he was also given the authority to decide criminal suits. Subsequently he transferred all his power to his brother Krishnarao.
In 1858 Raghunathrao helped the British Government in its attempt to introduce education into the country. He himself founded many schools in the villages included in his estate. Also at the same time he sanctioned the re-building of many a decaying and temple Chauki and gave orders for the construction of irrigation-works in districts, where the water supply was.found to be deficient. When the Duke of Edinburgh, second son to the Queen, visited India. In memory of his visit Raghunathrao built a tower at Poona and fixed on it a clock for public use.
In 1854 Madhavrao youngest brother of Raghunathrao was invested with the dignity and authority of the Judge of the Vinchurkar State and it fell to him to decide all the civil and criminal suits of the state. He discharged all these duties satisfactorily ; the Officers of the British Government, who paid casual visits to Vinchur, commended highly the management of the Judicial Department of the Vinchurkor State.
In 1863 Madhawrao gave his daughter in marriage to the eldest son of the Chief of Bhor. The event was celebrated with great eclat; but it had an untoward result. For,
the bride died of cholera only a month after her marriage. The Chief of Bhor, however, after the lapse of 3 years married his son a second time to the daughter of Krishnarao ( elder brother of Madhavrao) .In the April of 1865 the British Government enrolled Madhawrao as a First-Class Sardar in recognition of his services during the period when he was a member of the Vatan-Commission.
In the year 1866 Madhawrao was appointed Regent of the Akkalkot State,. as the Chief of that State was found incompetent to carry on the Government. Accordingly he made over his magisterial power at Yeola to this brother Krisnarao and went off to take charge of his new appointment.
On the occasion in the name of the Queen the Governor conferred on the Vinchurkar chief the title of Companion of the most exalted order of the Star of India." In 1872 Lord Northbrook came over to Bombay, when the honour of being a Star of the Empire was coferred upon Raghunathrao. The Chief of Vinchur in his turn made him a present of 10,000 Mohurs, and on his way back to Calcutta received him with great honour at Manmad (the Railway Station). Raghunathrao 's younger brother Krishnarao died in September 1879. Next year Raghunathrao's wife breathed her last breath . This was a severe blow to him as all hopes of issue, that Raghunathrao might have had, disappeared on the death of his wife
After the death of Raghunathrao, according to the orders of the Court of Directors passed in 1852 and 1856, half the Saranjam was resumed by Government and the other half was divided between the descendants of his two younger brothers (Krishnarao and Madhavrao) .
Krishnarao's first wife gave him three sons : Bhagwantrao ,Narsingrao and Vithalrao. The eldest Bhagwantrao died in 1867. The second Narsingrao was a big- salaried officer in the Nizam. He died in 1888. The third Vithalrao. continued throughout his life a victim of perverse fate. He died in 1904.Of his second wife, Krishnarao had one son, Ramrao alias Balasaheb Vinchurkar.
Narsingrao, the eldest surviving son of Krishnarao, got half the portion of the hereditary Saranjam and the other half was claimed by Ganpatrao, the eldest son of Madhavrao. He was working as a First-Class. Magistrate at Vinchur and was nominated as an additional Member of the Legislative Council by the Government of Bombay, when the Laud- Revenue Amendment Bill was passed in 1901. Ganpatrao attended the Coronation ceremony of his Majesty King Edward VII, on which occasion he was presented with a silver medal. Lakshmanrao, his younger brother, died in 1904. Lakshmanrao left no issue behind him. Ganpatrao had a son named Narayanrao Vinchurkar .
Narsingrao died in 1890 and the Saranjam was transferred to his only son Bhagwantrao . Bhagwantrao died in 1895 and subsequently the Saranjam passed to his uncle Vithalrao .Vithalrao too died in 1905 and the Saranjam descended to Vithalrao's half brother Ramrao .Ramarao had two sons the eldest son Bhaskarrao was given in adoption to Raghunathrao and the name was changed to Shivdevrao and the younger ones name was Chandrashekhar .Ramarao also had and a daughter who was given in marriage to the son of the Pant Sachiwa of Bhor .
Vinchurkars were deeply religious people constructed many temples and renovated some of them all over Maharashtra. Their contributions to the Temples of Maharashtra deserves a mention here .Vitthal Shivdev renovated The Laxmi Narsimha Temple temple on the insistence of his Guru Amrutswami. located at the confluence of Bhima river and Nira river, at the south eastern tip of Pune district, in Indapur taluka.Shri Narsimha of Nira Narsingpur is the family deity of many people from Maharashtra and Karnataka, the prominent ones being the families of the current Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis and Maratha Sardar Vinchurkar. Vitthal Shivdev had provided ten thousand rupees for maintenance of the temple .
The Hall of mirrors ,Golden kalash of the Triymbakeshwar temple were built by Vinchurkars .The Madhav Kund behind the mandir was built by the Vinhoorkar family.The main chariot/Rath was gifted by the Raghunathrao to the temple in the year 1865 . Hundreds of acres of lands in Vinchur and Trymbakeshwar were donated to Triymbakeshwar Temple.The honor of first pooja of the Rath during the Rath Yatra on Tripur Poornima is with the descendants of Vinhoorkar family .
The original sabaaha mandap of Sapashrungi Devi Wani was also built by Vinchurkars.Priceless jewellery including the Devis nose ring-Nath was gifted by the Vinchurkars.
Vithal Shivdev was born in the year 1695 to Shivajipant . Shivajipant had three sons Aburao, Trinibakrao, and Vithal Shivdev, among these three Vithal Shivdev was the youngest . Vithal Shivdev had five sons , 4 from his first wife Rakhamabai, daughter of the Kulkarni of Kenjal and the 5th from his second wife, Yamanabai of Kalpi. The names of the five respectively were Shivaji Vithal, Narsinghrao Vithal, Malharrao Vithal , Bajirao Vithal and Khanderao Vithal.
Shivaji Vithal was the most beloved son of his father. According to the father's fond belief, Shivaji had brought good luck to him ever since his birth. He was short in stature and dark in complexion; but he had a generous, forgiving, and kindly nature. Even during his father's lifetime, he had wrested from the Nizam's possession Ankai, Rajdar and other forts. Shivaji Vithal succeeded his father . He accompanied Biniwale, Sindhia and Tukoji Holkar in the campaign to North India in 1769 . On his return, his health sank completely and he died in 1794.
Thus the ancestral estates and the title-deeds of the household passed on to Khanderao Vithal. Khanderao Vithal was invested with the Sardar's dignity of the Vinhoorkar family. Khanderao Vithal was a of tall stature, his complexion was fair to look upon and he looked a beautiful person. He did not lived long and died soon after he assumed the dignity of the household.Narsingh Khanderao son of Khanderao Vithal succeeded his father at the tender age of 12.
It was during the minority of Narsingh Khanderao that young Sawai Madhavarao met his woeful end in 1795 , he died without an heir. A power struggle ensued among the Maratha nobles for control of the Confederacy. The powerful general Daulat Rao Scindia and minister Nana Phadnavis installed Baji Rao II as a Peshwa.After the death of Phadnavis in 1800, Daulat Rao Scindia took complete control over the Peshwa's government. As Scindia started eliminating his rivals within the government, Peshwa Baji Rao II became concerned about his own safety. He turned to British resident Colonel William Palmer for help. Baji Rao II concluded the Treaty of Bassein in December 1802, in which the British agreed to reinstate Baji Rao II as Peshwa, in return for allowing in Maratha territory- a force of 6000 infantry troops complete with guns and officered by British, paying for its maintenance and accepting the stationing of a permanent British political agent (Resident) at Pune. Holkar and Sindhia resisted the British intrusion in Maratha affairs, which resulted in the Second Anglo-Maratha War of 1803-1805.
Narsingh Khanderao died without leaving an heir behind him. So the well-wishers and the old servants of the House found themselves face to face with adoption, the only expedient which would keep the family name and estates in tact.
The choice fell upon the son of Gopal Parshuram aged 10. Bajirao II examined the boy personally and being satisfied with him ordered the adoption to take place. To her adopted son, Keshavrao, his mother Ramabai gave a different name. She called him after the founder of the family, Vithal Shivdev. So he became famous in history as Vithal Narsinh.( Lord Narsinh being the family deity of Vinchurkar family .His name was used by many many member of this family)
Vithal Narsinh was asked to put down the rebellion of Trimbakji Dengale. This Dengale too was one of the unworthy favourites of Bajirao II ; but he had offended the English who had him placed under restraint. He managed, however, to make his escape and gathered about him a following of
Bhils, Arabs and Rohillas. It did not take Vithal Narsinh long to destroy the following of Dengale; but the man himself escaped. His residence, however, and property at Nimbgaon in Ahmednagar District was taken away.Vinchurkars fought on the side of Peshwa Bajirao II in Third Anglo-Maratha War
Vithal Narsingh had to put down another impudent robber by name Shurpakarna. He was a Bania by caste, but his venturesome deeds had become the talk of the country. Vithal Narsingh destroyed his following and cut him down in person.
Vithal Narsingh made some valuable additions to the ancient temple at Narsingpore built by his noble ancestor. Also he tried to remove the inconvenience of water from which the city suffered. He had water-works built at considerable cost to the west of the city ; but he did not survive to see them completed . He died in 1836 at the age of 41, leaving behind him 3 sons Raghunathrao , Krishnarao and Madhavrao and 3 daughters.
Raghunathrao the eldest son of Vithal Narsingh was born in 1824 . At the age of three his mother died and a year after his marriage in 1835, his father died. In 1838 he had his brother Krishnarao married.Raghunathrao was given the power to decide civil suits from, which there could be no appeal. He was allowed to have stamp-paper of his own signature and was further allowed to add the income of the same to his own treasury. After a time he was also given the authority to decide criminal suits. Subsequently he transferred all his power to his brother Krishnarao.
In 1858 Raghunathrao helped the British Government in its attempt to introduce education into the country. He himself founded many schools in the villages included in his estate. Also at the same time he sanctioned the re-building of many a decaying and temple Chauki and gave orders for the construction of irrigation-works in districts, where the water supply was.found to be deficient. When the Duke of Edinburgh, second son to the Queen, visited India. In memory of his visit Raghunathrao built a tower at Poona and fixed on it a clock for public use.
In 1854 Madhavrao youngest brother of Raghunathrao was invested with the dignity and authority of the Judge of the Vinchurkar State and it fell to him to decide all the civil and criminal suits of the state. He discharged all these duties satisfactorily ; the Officers of the British Government, who paid casual visits to Vinchur, commended highly the management of the Judicial Department of the Vinchurkor State.
In 1863 Madhawrao gave his daughter in marriage to the eldest son of the Chief of Bhor. The event was celebrated with great eclat; but it had an untoward result. For,
the bride died of cholera only a month after her marriage. The Chief of Bhor, however, after the lapse of 3 years married his son a second time to the daughter of Krishnarao ( elder brother of Madhavrao) .In the April of 1865 the British Government enrolled Madhawrao as a First-Class Sardar in recognition of his services during the period when he was a member of the Vatan-Commission.
In the year 1866 Madhawrao was appointed Regent of the Akkalkot State,. as the Chief of that State was found incompetent to carry on the Government. Accordingly he made over his magisterial power at Yeola to this brother Krisnarao and went off to take charge of his new appointment.
On the occasion in the name of the Queen the Governor conferred on the Vinchurkar chief the title of Companion of the most exalted order of the Star of India." In 1872 Lord Northbrook came over to Bombay, when the honour of being a Star of the Empire was coferred upon Raghunathrao. The Chief of Vinchur in his turn made him a present of 10,000 Mohurs, and on his way back to Calcutta received him with great honour at Manmad (the Railway Station). Raghunathrao 's younger brother Krishnarao died in September 1879. Next year Raghunathrao's wife breathed her last breath . This was a severe blow to him as all hopes of issue, that Raghunathrao might have had, disappeared on the death of his wife
After the death of Raghunathrao, according to the orders of the Court of Directors passed in 1852 and 1856, half the Saranjam was resumed by Government and the other half was divided between the descendants of his two younger brothers (Krishnarao and Madhavrao) .
Krishnarao's first wife gave him three sons : Bhagwantrao ,Narsingrao and Vithalrao. The eldest Bhagwantrao died in 1867. The second Narsingrao was a big- salaried officer in the Nizam. He died in 1888. The third Vithalrao. continued throughout his life a victim of perverse fate. He died in 1904.Of his second wife, Krishnarao had one son, Ramrao alias Balasaheb Vinchurkar.
Narsingrao, the eldest surviving son of Krishnarao, got half the portion of the hereditary Saranjam and the other half was claimed by Ganpatrao, the eldest son of Madhavrao. He was working as a First-Class. Magistrate at Vinchur and was nominated as an additional Member of the Legislative Council by the Government of Bombay, when the Laud- Revenue Amendment Bill was passed in 1901. Ganpatrao attended the Coronation ceremony of his Majesty King Edward VII, on which occasion he was presented with a silver medal. Lakshmanrao, his younger brother, died in 1904. Lakshmanrao left no issue behind him. Ganpatrao had a son named Narayanrao Vinchurkar .
Narsingrao died in 1890 and the Saranjam was transferred to his only son Bhagwantrao . Bhagwantrao died in 1895 and subsequently the Saranjam passed to his uncle Vithalrao .Vithalrao too died in 1905 and the Saranjam descended to Vithalrao's half brother Ramrao .Ramarao had two sons the eldest son Bhaskarrao was given in adoption to Raghunathrao and the name was changed to Shivdevrao and the younger ones name was Chandrashekhar .Ramarao also had and a daughter who was given in marriage to the son of the Pant Sachiwa of Bhor .
Vinchurkars were deeply religious people constructed many temples and renovated some of them all over Maharashtra. Their contributions to the Temples of Maharashtra deserves a mention here .Vitthal Shivdev renovated The Laxmi Narsimha Temple temple on the insistence of his Guru Amrutswami. located at the confluence of Bhima river and Nira river, at the south eastern tip of Pune district, in Indapur taluka.Shri Narsimha of Nira Narsingpur is the family deity of many people from Maharashtra and Karnataka, the prominent ones being the families of the current Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis and Maratha Sardar Vinchurkar. Vitthal Shivdev had provided ten thousand rupees for maintenance of the temple .
The Hall of mirrors ,Golden kalash of the Triymbakeshwar temple were built by Vinchurkars .The Madhav Kund behind the mandir was built by the Vinhoorkar family.The main chariot/Rath was gifted by the Raghunathrao to the temple in the year 1865 . Hundreds of acres of lands in Vinchur and Trymbakeshwar were donated to Triymbakeshwar Temple.The honor of first pooja of the Rath during the Rath Yatra on Tripur Poornima is with the descendants of Vinhoorkar family .
The original sabaaha mandap of Sapashrungi Devi Wani was also built by Vinchurkars.Priceless jewellery including the Devis nose ring-Nath was gifted by the Vinchurkars.
June 29, 2018
Brief History of Pune
The original nucleus of Pune was located in the immediate vicinity of the confluence of the Mula and Mutha. River confluences have traditionally been considered sacred by the Hindus and to this fact, is attributed the original name of Poona: Sanskrit "Punyapur" (Cleanser), which changed into Marathi "Pune" and the British "Poona". ( Gadgil, 1952). Pune that has a long history can be traced from the copper plate inscriptions of the Rastrakuta kings in the 8th and 10th century. After the Rastrakutas, Pune came under the Yadav Kings of Daulatabad. During the period from sixth to thirteenth century, Pune served as head quarters for Hindu dynasties that controlled the West Deccan Region. Later in 1294 AD it came under Mohammedan rule with Muslim invasion of the Deccan. In the early thirteenth century it was said to be only a small village containing fifteen huts around the traditional temples. At the end of the thirteenth century the first traces of a market town called, 'Kasbe Pune' was developed by an Arab military governor (Burha Arab )whom Allauddin Khilji had appointed .It was created by combining the villages of Kasarli and Kumbarli to its east Pune remained largely a Muslim garrison town for over three centuries .Kasba Peth was the first Peth to be established . He is also said to have built a fort along the Mutha river as his residential quarters. The fort was known as Kille Hissar .
In 1629, Siddhi Yakub and Ranjitrai were appointed in charge of the fort by Nizamshah. Kille Hissar fort was reserved for the garrison and the town's Muslim inhabitants. Beyond the inner wall, an outer wall surrounded the civilian Hindu population consisting of artisans, farmers and traders. In the early l630s, Pune came into Shahaji's (Shivaji's father) possession ranted by the Muslim King of Ahmednagar. Soon after, his enemies attacked it and Pune was burnt and razed to the ground. However, Shahaji made Pune as seat in 1636, and the town was reconstructed . Small suburban settlements emerged outside the Kasba, and Pune enjoyed a brief period of peace and prosperity. ( Joshi, 1971).
The kasba was surrounded by fringe of semi rural suburbs. To the east of Kasba, was the oldest suburb called Shahapur contained cultivators, gardeners, artisans and petty traders. To the north of the Shahapur was Astapur containing outcaste communities. The southern suburb of Malkapur was a settlement of traders, the eastern riverbank suburb of Murtazabad was predominated by Brahmins and to the south east of Kasba was Mohiyabad, added to it during the visit of Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb to Pune about 1700 (Gadgil, 1952).
In 1708, the Moghul Emperor declared Shivaji's grandson Shahu as Maratha king at Satara.
Several districts including Pune were granted to Shahu by the Moghul Emperor as his autonomous territory. Shahu appointed a Brahmin as his Prime Minister or 'Peshwa" (a Persian title used by the Muslim kings of the Deccan; Poona Gaz, 11) to look after the administration at Pune. Later 'Peshwa" became hereditary and the second peshwas BajiRao I made Pune as his residence in 1720. In 1726, Shahu granted him the town as a part of his 'Jagir" and thereafter, Pune became the permanent official seat of the peshwas for nearly a century.
The real growth of Pune dates from the time of Peshwa Bajirao I, when a systematic expansion of the town was under taken. In 1728, Bajirao Peshwa asked his sardars, Mahadjipant Purandare, Dadaji Nilkantha Prabhu, Sakharampant Bokil and Babuji Naik, to demolish the fort and construct houses for themselves. Once the official status of Pune as a capital city was confirmed by the Peshwas and his nobles, the town started to grow organically by accretion. The growth of Kasba took place through the addition of new localities, which were known as 'Pur' or 'Pura' in the early stages and later raised, to the status of a 'Peth' (i.e. a large division of town). Gradually the peths grew to be a fairly self-sufficient. Often a peth was a small town, centering on the founder's mansion and containing one predominant temple, in addition to several others. (Gadgil, 1952). The old suburbs were annexed to the Kasba as its new peths.
The old Muslim names of the peths were gradually changed to the Hindu names following the days of the week. (Local traditions trace the origin of these names to the customs of holding weekly markets in each peth on a specific day of the week.)
Former Shahapur, Astapur, Mohiyabad, Murtazabad and Malkapur were renamed Somwar (Monday), Mangalwar (Tuesday), Budhwar (Wednesday), Shaniwar (Saturday), and Raviwar or Adiwar (Sunday) peths, respectively. A new peth called Shukrawar (Friday) was eatablished in 1734. (Gadgil, 1952). In 1739, Pune was described as a prosperous, crowded and well built town, with handsome houses and an impressive gun factory. (Poona gaz., HI: 405). The Town was further extended in the 1750's with the addition of five new Peths: Guruwar (Thursday) or Vetal peth, Ganesh peth, Ganj peth, Musafarjung peth and Nihal or Nagesh peth. The early growth of Pune was southward, bounded as it was by the river on the north, by the streams Nagasari and Manik nala in the east and by another parallel stream in the west, which was later, diverted and has disappeared completely. This was the main reason for the north-south direction of lines of communication in the city.
The physical expansion of Pune, which had so far been largely southward, assumed an east-west direction in the late 1760's. In the east, the space between Nagzari and Manik nala was being brought under settlement. Bhawani peth was located in this area en route to Sholapur, in 1767.
In addition to the Kasba and the eleven peths, two small localities called Karanpura and the Hashampura, both absorbed into the Sadashiv peth in 1769 came up. (Gadgil, 1952). Narayan peth was also established about the same time on a strip of land along the river, to the west of
Shaniwar peth. (Poona Gaz.III: 280).
The last phase in the extension of Pune, which transformed it into a city, began in the 1780's and seems to have resulted from its growing importance and the concomitant increase in trade due to royal patronage. In 1781, Ghorpade peth was founded and formed the southernmost extension of the city. To the north of Bhavani peth, Raste and Nana peths were established during 1785 and 1790 respectively. The Kasba and its seventeen peths, which constituted the indigenous city, almost until the end of the 19th century, were in place by 1790.
In 1629, Siddhi Yakub and Ranjitrai were appointed in charge of the fort by Nizamshah. Kille Hissar fort was reserved for the garrison and the town's Muslim inhabitants. Beyond the inner wall, an outer wall surrounded the civilian Hindu population consisting of artisans, farmers and traders. In the early l630s, Pune came into Shahaji's (Shivaji's father) possession ranted by the Muslim King of Ahmednagar. Soon after, his enemies attacked it and Pune was burnt and razed to the ground. However, Shahaji made Pune as seat in 1636, and the town was reconstructed . Small suburban settlements emerged outside the Kasba, and Pune enjoyed a brief period of peace and prosperity. ( Joshi, 1971).
The kasba was surrounded by fringe of semi rural suburbs. To the east of Kasba, was the oldest suburb called Shahapur contained cultivators, gardeners, artisans and petty traders. To the north of the Shahapur was Astapur containing outcaste communities. The southern suburb of Malkapur was a settlement of traders, the eastern riverbank suburb of Murtazabad was predominated by Brahmins and to the south east of Kasba was Mohiyabad, added to it during the visit of Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb to Pune about 1700 (Gadgil, 1952).
In 1708, the Moghul Emperor declared Shivaji's grandson Shahu as Maratha king at Satara.
Several districts including Pune were granted to Shahu by the Moghul Emperor as his autonomous territory. Shahu appointed a Brahmin as his Prime Minister or 'Peshwa" (a Persian title used by the Muslim kings of the Deccan; Poona Gaz, 11) to look after the administration at Pune. Later 'Peshwa" became hereditary and the second peshwas BajiRao I made Pune as his residence in 1720. In 1726, Shahu granted him the town as a part of his 'Jagir" and thereafter, Pune became the permanent official seat of the peshwas for nearly a century.
The real growth of Pune dates from the time of Peshwa Bajirao I, when a systematic expansion of the town was under taken. In 1728, Bajirao Peshwa asked his sardars, Mahadjipant Purandare, Dadaji Nilkantha Prabhu, Sakharampant Bokil and Babuji Naik, to demolish the fort and construct houses for themselves. Once the official status of Pune as a capital city was confirmed by the Peshwas and his nobles, the town started to grow organically by accretion. The growth of Kasba took place through the addition of new localities, which were known as 'Pur' or 'Pura' in the early stages and later raised, to the status of a 'Peth' (i.e. a large division of town). Gradually the peths grew to be a fairly self-sufficient. Often a peth was a small town, centering on the founder's mansion and containing one predominant temple, in addition to several others. (Gadgil, 1952). The old suburbs were annexed to the Kasba as its new peths.
The old Muslim names of the peths were gradually changed to the Hindu names following the days of the week. (Local traditions trace the origin of these names to the customs of holding weekly markets in each peth on a specific day of the week.)
Former Shahapur, Astapur, Mohiyabad, Murtazabad and Malkapur were renamed Somwar (Monday), Mangalwar (Tuesday), Budhwar (Wednesday), Shaniwar (Saturday), and Raviwar or Adiwar (Sunday) peths, respectively. A new peth called Shukrawar (Friday) was eatablished in 1734. (Gadgil, 1952). In 1739, Pune was described as a prosperous, crowded and well built town, with handsome houses and an impressive gun factory. (Poona gaz., HI: 405). The Town was further extended in the 1750's with the addition of five new Peths: Guruwar (Thursday) or Vetal peth, Ganesh peth, Ganj peth, Musafarjung peth and Nihal or Nagesh peth. The early growth of Pune was southward, bounded as it was by the river on the north, by the streams Nagasari and Manik nala in the east and by another parallel stream in the west, which was later, diverted and has disappeared completely. This was the main reason for the north-south direction of lines of communication in the city.
The physical expansion of Pune, which had so far been largely southward, assumed an east-west direction in the late 1760's. In the east, the space between Nagzari and Manik nala was being brought under settlement. Bhawani peth was located in this area en route to Sholapur, in 1767.
In addition to the Kasba and the eleven peths, two small localities called Karanpura and the Hashampura, both absorbed into the Sadashiv peth in 1769 came up. (Gadgil, 1952). Narayan peth was also established about the same time on a strip of land along the river, to the west of
Shaniwar peth. (Poona Gaz.III: 280).
The last phase in the extension of Pune, which transformed it into a city, began in the 1780's and seems to have resulted from its growing importance and the concomitant increase in trade due to royal patronage. In 1781, Ghorpade peth was founded and formed the southernmost extension of the city. To the north of Bhavani peth, Raste and Nana peths were established during 1785 and 1790 respectively. The Kasba and its seventeen peths, which constituted the indigenous city, almost until the end of the 19th century, were in place by 1790.
June 15, 2018
Grave of Mastani in Pabal
Located around 60 km from Pune, Mastani's 275-year-old tomb is housed in the middle of a courtyard, surrounded by a boundary wall and three doors. One end of the courtyard has an elevated platform, which is used for namaz. One of the walls has Mastani's painting, too. According to local villagers, Muslims call the place 'Mastani chi Masjid' and Hindus 'Mastani's Samadhi'.Mohammad Inamdar's family has been looking after the tomb for generations.In the middle of the courtyard is a stone tomb, where Mastani was buried over two centuries ago. Next to the tomb stands a diya kund (lamp), which Inamdar lights every day.Though initially she stayed at Mastani Mahal in Shaniwarwada, owing to the intolerance from family, Bajirao shifted her to a palace in Kothrud. Later, when conflicts failed to end, he shifted her to a palace specially made for her in Pabal. Today, there’s no sign of the said palace in the village. The money collected as tax from three villages – Pabal, Tendur and Loni – was used by Bajirao for maintenance of Mastani
While the grave was in complete ruins, the state archaeology department started restoration work after miscreants dug it up in 2009. Locals said the tomb was dug up when people tried to find a diamond that Mastani swallowed to commit suicide.Within a month, the grave was restored by the archaeological department. “The day when the grave was restored, while the rituals were performed as per the Muslim tradition, the Hindus too joined in with garlands to place it on the grave,” says Baba Inamdar, nephew of the caretaker, who is also the vice-president of All India Muslim and OBC Organisation.
Irrespective of their beliefs, people from both the community visit Mastani’s grave with equal devotion. “Because Mastani was Maharaja Chhatrasal’s daughter, the Hindus of Pabal consider her as a Hindu. The Muslims think she was a Muslim as her mother, Ruhaani Bai, was a Persian-Muslim. Despite their respective faiths, there’s never been a dispute in the village on this matter,” says Sanjay Ghodekar, the principal of a Padmani Jain Mahavidyalaya in Pabal, who has done M.Phil on Mastani as a subject in 1997 based on his six-year long extensive research.
A few decades ago, a sword was found in the village. Assuming that it may have once belonged to Mastani’s security guards, it was kept safely in the office of gram panchayat .The village remembers the beautiful queen in many other ways. Padmani Jain Mahavidyalaya takes out an annual magazine as a tribute to Mastani. Besides, the college also organises a state-level debate completion named Bajirao Mastani Debate Competition which sees participation of students from across the state.
While the grave was in complete ruins, the state archaeology department started restoration work after miscreants dug it up in 2009. Locals said the tomb was dug up when people tried to find a diamond that Mastani swallowed to commit suicide.Within a month, the grave was restored by the archaeological department. “The day when the grave was restored, while the rituals were performed as per the Muslim tradition, the Hindus too joined in with garlands to place it on the grave,” says Baba Inamdar, nephew of the caretaker, who is also the vice-president of All India Muslim and OBC Organisation.
Irrespective of their beliefs, people from both the community visit Mastani’s grave with equal devotion. “Because Mastani was Maharaja Chhatrasal’s daughter, the Hindus of Pabal consider her as a Hindu. The Muslims think she was a Muslim as her mother, Ruhaani Bai, was a Persian-Muslim. Despite their respective faiths, there’s never been a dispute in the village on this matter,” says Sanjay Ghodekar, the principal of a Padmani Jain Mahavidyalaya in Pabal, who has done M.Phil on Mastani as a subject in 1997 based on his six-year long extensive research.
A few decades ago, a sword was found in the village. Assuming that it may have once belonged to Mastani’s security guards, it was kept safely in the office of gram panchayat .The village remembers the beautiful queen in many other ways. Padmani Jain Mahavidyalaya takes out an annual magazine as a tribute to Mastani. Besides, the college also organises a state-level debate completion named Bajirao Mastani Debate Competition which sees participation of students from across the state.
June 9, 2018
zamburak
A zamburak (Persian: زمبورک) was a specialized form of self-propelled artillery from the early modern period. The operator of a zamburak is known as a zamburakchi. The weapon was used by the Gunpowder Empires, especially the Iranian empires of the Safavid dynasty and Afsharid dynasty, due to the ruggedness of the Iranian Plateau, which made typical transportation of heavy cannons problematic. A zamburak consisted of a soldier on a camel with a mounted swivel gun (a small falconet), which was hinged on a metal fork-rest protruding from the saddle of the animal. In order to fire the cannon, the camel would be put on its knees. The name may be derived from Arabic zanbūr "hornet", possibly in reference to the sound earlier camel-mounted crossbows made. The mobility of the camel combined with the flexibility and heavy firepower of the swivel gun made for an intimidating military unit, although the accuracy and range of the cannon was rather low. The light cannon was also not particularly useful against heavy fortifications.They were usually never fired while the camel was standing or in motion; doing so would minimize accuracy and could injure the camel. Rather the camel would kneel when firing. Due to their small cannon size they were limited in range, accuracy, and destructiveness, however mounted to a mobile platform, they were excellent skirmishing weapons.
The zamburak became a deadly weapon in the eighteenth century. The Pashtuns used it to deadly effect in the Battle of Gulnabad, routing a numerically superior imperial Safavid army. The zamburak was also used successfully in Nader's Campaigns, when the Shah and military genius Nader Shah utilized a zamburak corps in conjunction with a regular artillery corps of conventional cannon to devastating effect in numerous battles such as at the Battle of Damghan (1729), the Battle of Yeghevārd, and the Battle of Karnal.
In Third Battle of Panipat Sadashiv Rao Bhau had the best artillery in the country ( 200 heavy guns ) along with the English, and had French-trained gunners and musketeers who could fight in European fashion. On the other hand, the Afghans under Ahmed Shah Abdali didn’t have an impressive field artillery; but they had a brutally effective mobile artillery mounted on camels. The zamburak cannon were deployed in large numbers to fire at the enemy and change position, thereby harassing him more . the Afghans deployed 3,000 camels equipped with jamburaks. On Abdali’s side, the center was commanded by Shah Wali Khan, his Wazir, with the royal cavalry. With him were 2000 Zamburaks, which were small cannons placed on camels, and were light and more mobile than the static maratha cannons.
Muhammad Jafar Shamlu, a camp follower of Shah Pasand Khan said Vishwas Rao was hit by a jamburak (swivel gun) shot on the head and died
The zamburak became a deadly weapon in the eighteenth century. The Pashtuns used it to deadly effect in the Battle of Gulnabad, routing a numerically superior imperial Safavid army. The zamburak was also used successfully in Nader's Campaigns, when the Shah and military genius Nader Shah utilized a zamburak corps in conjunction with a regular artillery corps of conventional cannon to devastating effect in numerous battles such as at the Battle of Damghan (1729), the Battle of Yeghevārd, and the Battle of Karnal.
In Third Battle of Panipat Sadashiv Rao Bhau had the best artillery in the country ( 200 heavy guns ) along with the English, and had French-trained gunners and musketeers who could fight in European fashion. On the other hand, the Afghans under Ahmed Shah Abdali didn’t have an impressive field artillery; but they had a brutally effective mobile artillery mounted on camels. The zamburak cannon were deployed in large numbers to fire at the enemy and change position, thereby harassing him more . the Afghans deployed 3,000 camels equipped with jamburaks. On Abdali’s side, the center was commanded by Shah Wali Khan, his Wazir, with the royal cavalry. With him were 2000 Zamburaks, which were small cannons placed on camels, and were light and more mobile than the static maratha cannons.
Muhammad Jafar Shamlu, a camp follower of Shah Pasand Khan said Vishwas Rao was hit by a jamburak (swivel gun) shot on the head and died
June 8, 2018
Vithal Shivdev Vinchurkar
Vithal Shivdev was a Deshastra Brahman belonging to Vinchurkar family . They were originally Danis of Saswada doing duty as recorders of grain and accepting a portion of the same as their Vatan. Vithal Shivdev was born in the year 1695 to Shivajipant . Shivajipant had three sons Aburao, Trinibakrao, and Vithal Shivdev, among these three Vithal Shivdev was the youngest . At a young age Vithal Shivdev was thrown out of his family , he then fixed his residence at Madhe, situated three miles from Satara. There he devoted himself to a saint by name Amritswami and upon the retirement of Amritswami he offered his single-minded devotion to his successor, Pawanbawa. This latter recommended Vithal Shivdev to one Bakshi, a respectable servant of Chatrapati Sahuji Maharaj. Bakshi employed him in his household to superintend management of his horse. The bravery shown by this young boy on one hunting expedition of Sahuji Maharaj compelled the chatrapati to take him into his services where he continued to stow himself deserving of the favour and rose to be the commandant of ten horsemen
At the age of 21 he married the daughter of the Kulkarni of Kenjalgaon. In 1720 Chimnaji Appa was despatched to put down the rebellious Nabab Siddi-Sada of Janjira . Vithal Shivdev accompanied Chimnaji Appa in this expedition. Greatly he distinguished himself in the fight and cut down the Nawab himself. As a result he was raised -to the command of the horse he brought over from the enemy. On personally hearing the tale of the exploit from Chimnaji Appa, Shahu had his services transferred for the Peshwa’s benefit. In 1730 Vithal Shivdev assisted Chimnaji Appa in the campaign in Malwa against Dayabahadur, the new Subhedar of Malwa. In 1731 Sayaji Gujjar commanded the expedition against Gadhemandala. Vithal Shivdev was ordered to go out in his aid. Faithfully be performed the task and captured the fort. As a reward he was raised to the command of an independent battalion. Also it was ordered henceforward that the expenses of Vithal Shivdev, private and those incurred for the maintenance of the force under should be met from the Peshwa treasury. In 1739 Vithal Shivdev formed one of the band of valorous Lieutenants, who helped the Chmnaji Appa to capture the fort of Bassein .
In the Gujrat campaign of Raghunathrao of 1753 Vithal Shivdev accompanied him and thence to North India but in the course of time his first wife died and he married a second time at Kalpi .Towards the end of 1754 Peshwa Balajirao ordered Raghunathrao to capture Gwaliour which was then under the rule of the Jat king of Gohad . Raghunathrao entrusted this job to Vithal Shivdev . In January 1755 Vithal Shivdev attacked Gohad , Raja Bhimsingh Jat , the king of Gohad left Gohad and took shelter in the fort of Gwaliour which was besieged by Vithal Shivdev . Army and guns were requisitioned from Delhi . Bhimsingh Jat was defeated and beheaded and the fort was conquered . Bhimsingh’s son Balram , succeeded to the throne of Gohad . Rupram Kataria effected an agreement between the new Jat King and Raghunathrao on 7th June 1755 . According to the agreement the fort of Gwalior came into Maratha possession along with 19 cannons. The territories annexed by Vithal Shivdev were to be returned to Jat King Balram except Gwaliour . Gopalrao Barwe was appointed as the incharge of this fort who took the charge on 22nd June .
When Raghunathrao went to north India in 1757 Vithal Shivdev led his troops of 4,000 horsemen . He was among the best general of Peshwa Balajirao and a close man of Raghunathrao. Though not on good terms with Bhausaheb . About the middle of May Vithal Shivdev along with Sakharam Bapu, Gangadhar Chandrachud (Holkar’s diwan), Antaji Manakeshwar and 20,000 troops were sent to recover Maratha possessions in north India .They first came across Agra which was a Maratha possession. The subahdari of Agra was given by the Peshwa to Malharrao Holkar who nominated his close friend Vital Shivdev as his deputy there (27 May ). Suraj Mal who had usurped the Maratha lands in these regions agreed to pay the outstanding balance of the indemnity of 1754 if allowed to hold these tracts When the Marathas reached Delhi , Vithal Shivdev aggressively attacked Delhi and it was he who arrested Najib Khan . For this achievement was rewarded by the Emperor with dresses and ornaments and given the title of Umdat-ul-mulk and a jagir near Nasik. On 10th May 1758 Vital Shivdev was appointed as the faujdar of Saharanpur replacing Najib Khan by Wazir Imad-ul-Mulkh.
Below one can find these Royal farmans .
At the age of 21 he married the daughter of the Kulkarni of Kenjalgaon. In 1720 Chimnaji Appa was despatched to put down the rebellious Nabab Siddi-Sada of Janjira . Vithal Shivdev accompanied Chimnaji Appa in this expedition. Greatly he distinguished himself in the fight and cut down the Nawab himself. As a result he was raised -to the command of the horse he brought over from the enemy. On personally hearing the tale of the exploit from Chimnaji Appa, Shahu had his services transferred for the Peshwa’s benefit. In 1730 Vithal Shivdev assisted Chimnaji Appa in the campaign in Malwa against Dayabahadur, the new Subhedar of Malwa. In 1731 Sayaji Gujjar commanded the expedition against Gadhemandala. Vithal Shivdev was ordered to go out in his aid. Faithfully be performed the task and captured the fort. As a reward he was raised to the command of an independent battalion. Also it was ordered henceforward that the expenses of Vithal Shivdev, private and those incurred for the maintenance of the force under should be met from the Peshwa treasury. In 1739 Vithal Shivdev formed one of the band of valorous Lieutenants, who helped the Chmnaji Appa to capture the fort of Bassein .
In the Gujrat campaign of Raghunathrao of 1753 Vithal Shivdev accompanied him and thence to North India but in the course of time his first wife died and he married a second time at Kalpi .Towards the end of 1754 Peshwa Balajirao ordered Raghunathrao to capture Gwaliour which was then under the rule of the Jat king of Gohad . Raghunathrao entrusted this job to Vithal Shivdev . In January 1755 Vithal Shivdev attacked Gohad , Raja Bhimsingh Jat , the king of Gohad left Gohad and took shelter in the fort of Gwaliour which was besieged by Vithal Shivdev . Army and guns were requisitioned from Delhi . Bhimsingh Jat was defeated and beheaded and the fort was conquered . Bhimsingh’s son Balram , succeeded to the throne of Gohad . Rupram Kataria effected an agreement between the new Jat King and Raghunathrao on 7th June 1755 . According to the agreement the fort of Gwalior came into Maratha possession along with 19 cannons. The territories annexed by Vithal Shivdev were to be returned to Jat King Balram except Gwaliour . Gopalrao Barwe was appointed as the incharge of this fort who took the charge on 22nd June .
When Raghunathrao went to north India in 1757 Vithal Shivdev led his troops of 4,000 horsemen . He was among the best general of Peshwa Balajirao and a close man of Raghunathrao. Though not on good terms with Bhausaheb . About the middle of May Vithal Shivdev along with Sakharam Bapu, Gangadhar Chandrachud (Holkar’s diwan), Antaji Manakeshwar and 20,000 troops were sent to recover Maratha possessions in north India .They first came across Agra which was a Maratha possession. The subahdari of Agra was given by the Peshwa to Malharrao Holkar who nominated his close friend Vital Shivdev as his deputy there (27 May ). Suraj Mal who had usurped the Maratha lands in these regions agreed to pay the outstanding balance of the indemnity of 1754 if allowed to hold these tracts When the Marathas reached Delhi , Vithal Shivdev aggressively attacked Delhi and it was he who arrested Najib Khan . For this achievement was rewarded by the Emperor with dresses and ornaments and given the title of Umdat-ul-mulk and a jagir near Nasik. On 10th May 1758 Vital Shivdev was appointed as the faujdar of Saharanpur replacing Najib Khan by Wazir Imad-ul-Mulkh.
Below one can find these Royal farmans .
June 2, 2018
Kailash Mehendale : A desendent of Balwantrao Mehendale
Kailash Mehendale a man in his fifties living in Pune is the 10th generation descendant of Balwantrao Mehendale . I met him on my personal visit to Pune . Kailashji took me to his ancestral house (Wada) at Appa Balwant Chowk . Appa Balwant Chowk (also known as A.B.C.) is a popular crossroads in the Budhwar Peth neighborhood of Pune, India that is particularly noted for the concentration of bookshops in the area.On August 9, 1942, two people were shot and killed by police at A.B.C. after a teenager raised the Indian flag in defiance of the British rule. That triggered anti-colonialist violence including a theatre bombing the 75th anniversary of which was marked in January 2018.
Mehendale family lost a major portion of his house in the name of road widening . Earlier his house used be till half of the present road and there was an underground tunnel from Shaniwarwada to his Wada in Peshwa's times . While doing the construction activities in his ancestral house many swords , muskets and armors were found .
Balwantrao's rusted armor was about seven feet long . He also said that the Barah bhai meeting took place in his wada only .
Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal, popularly known as Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal or just ‘Mandal’, is an Indian institute providing resources and training for historical researchers.The institute was founded in 1910 by the veteran Indian historian Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade and Sardar K. C. Mehendale. The Mandal was founded on 7 July 1910 by the veteran Indian historian Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade and Sardar Khanderao Chintaman Mehendale at Sardar Mehendale’s palace at Appa Balwant Chowk in Pune.To commence the activity Rajwade read an essay in the presence of the only listener Sardar Mehendale. Later on, the Mandal moved to its present building located in Sadashiv Peth area in the heart of the city.
When Peshwa Madhavrao was returning from Parvati Hills to Shaniwarwada seated on an elephant . Peshwa fell asleep and was about to fall from his ambari on the way just then Appa Balwant son of Balwantrao saw this and pulled him by his armor and thus saved his life . Peshwa in reward of this act named that chowk as Appa Balwant Chowk.
Kailashji then took me to Shaniwarwada . The Shaniwar Wada was originally the seven-storied capital building of the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire.Shaniwarwada was completed in 1732, at a total cost of Rs. 16,110, a very large sum at the time. When attacked by the British Artillery 90 years later, all the top six stories collapsed leaving only the stone base . Balaji Pant Natu who belonged to the Chitpavan Brahmin community of Maharashtra coming from the powerful Natu family in Pune got the doors of Shaniwar Wada opened in absense of Peshwa .When the British forces entered Shanivar Wada on November 17, 1817, Natu unfurled the Union Jack over the building.On February 27, 1828, a great fire started inside the palace complex. The conflagration raged for seven days. Only the heavy granite ramparts, strong teak gateways and deep foundations and ruins of the buildings within the fort survived.
Shaniwarwada has five gates:
Dilli Darwaza
The Dilli Darwaza is the main gate of the complex, and faces north towards Delhi. Chhatrapati Shahu is said to have considered the north-facing fort a sign of Baji Rao's ambitions against the Mughal empire, and suggested that the main gate should be made chhaatiiche, maatiche naahi! (Marathi for of the chests of brave soldiers, not made of mud).
The strongly built Dilli Darwaza gatehouse has massive doors, large enough to admit elephants outfitted with howdahs (seating canopies). To discourage elephants charging the gates, each pane of the gate has seventy-two sharp twelve-inch steel spikes arranged in a nine by eight grid, at approximately the height of the forehead of a battle-elephant. Each pane was also fortified with steel cross members, and borders were bolted with steel bolts having sharpened cone heads. The bastions flanking the gatehouse has arrow-loops and machicolation chutes through which boiling oil could be poured onto offending raiders. The right pane has a small man-sized door for usual entries and exits, too small to allow an army to enter rapidly. Shaniwar Wada was built by contractor from Rajasthan known as 'Kumawat Kshatriya' belongs to Kumhar Sub-caste, after completing construction they were given the name 'Naik' by the Peshwa.
Even if the main gates were to be forced open, a charging army would need to turn sharply right, then sharply left, to pass through the gateway and into the central complex. This would provide a defending army with another chance to attack the incoming army, and to launch a counterattack to recapture the gateway.
As the ceremonial gate of the fort, military campaigns would set out from and be received back here, with appropriate religious ceremonies.
Mastani Darwaja (Mastani's Gate) or Aliibahadur Darwaja, facing north
This gate was used by Bajirao I's wife Mastani while travelling out of the palace's perimeter wall.
Khidki Darwaja (Window Gate), facing east
The Khidki Darwaja is named for an armoured window it contains.
Ganesh Darwaja (Ganesh Gate), facing south-east
Named for the Ganesh Rang Mahal, which used to stand near this door. It could be used by ladies at the fort to visit the nearby Kasba Ganapati temple.
Jambhul Darwaja or Narayan Darwaja (Narayan's Gate), facing south
This gate was used by concubines to enter and leave the fort. It obtained its second name after Narayanrao Peshwa's corpse was removed from the fort for cremation through this gate.
I find it hard that a person with such a glorious history is living such a simple life in Pune.
Mehendale family lost a major portion of his house in the name of road widening . Earlier his house used be till half of the present road and there was an underground tunnel from Shaniwarwada to his Wada in Peshwa's times . While doing the construction activities in his ancestral house many swords , muskets and armors were found .
Balwantrao's rusted armor was about seven feet long . He also said that the Barah bhai meeting took place in his wada only .
Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal, popularly known as Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal or just ‘Mandal’, is an Indian institute providing resources and training for historical researchers.The institute was founded in 1910 by the veteran Indian historian Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade and Sardar K. C. Mehendale. The Mandal was founded on 7 July 1910 by the veteran Indian historian Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade and Sardar Khanderao Chintaman Mehendale at Sardar Mehendale’s palace at Appa Balwant Chowk in Pune.To commence the activity Rajwade read an essay in the presence of the only listener Sardar Mehendale. Later on, the Mandal moved to its present building located in Sadashiv Peth area in the heart of the city.
When Peshwa Madhavrao was returning from Parvati Hills to Shaniwarwada seated on an elephant . Peshwa fell asleep and was about to fall from his ambari on the way just then Appa Balwant son of Balwantrao saw this and pulled him by his armor and thus saved his life . Peshwa in reward of this act named that chowk as Appa Balwant Chowk.
Kailashji then took me to Shaniwarwada . The Shaniwar Wada was originally the seven-storied capital building of the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire.Shaniwarwada was completed in 1732, at a total cost of Rs. 16,110, a very large sum at the time. When attacked by the British Artillery 90 years later, all the top six stories collapsed leaving only the stone base . Balaji Pant Natu who belonged to the Chitpavan Brahmin community of Maharashtra coming from the powerful Natu family in Pune got the doors of Shaniwar Wada opened in absense of Peshwa .When the British forces entered Shanivar Wada on November 17, 1817, Natu unfurled the Union Jack over the building.On February 27, 1828, a great fire started inside the palace complex. The conflagration raged for seven days. Only the heavy granite ramparts, strong teak gateways and deep foundations and ruins of the buildings within the fort survived.
Shaniwarwada has five gates:
Dilli Darwaza
The Dilli Darwaza is the main gate of the complex, and faces north towards Delhi. Chhatrapati Shahu is said to have considered the north-facing fort a sign of Baji Rao's ambitions against the Mughal empire, and suggested that the main gate should be made chhaatiiche, maatiche naahi! (Marathi for of the chests of brave soldiers, not made of mud).
The strongly built Dilli Darwaza gatehouse has massive doors, large enough to admit elephants outfitted with howdahs (seating canopies). To discourage elephants charging the gates, each pane of the gate has seventy-two sharp twelve-inch steel spikes arranged in a nine by eight grid, at approximately the height of the forehead of a battle-elephant. Each pane was also fortified with steel cross members, and borders were bolted with steel bolts having sharpened cone heads. The bastions flanking the gatehouse has arrow-loops and machicolation chutes through which boiling oil could be poured onto offending raiders. The right pane has a small man-sized door for usual entries and exits, too small to allow an army to enter rapidly. Shaniwar Wada was built by contractor from Rajasthan known as 'Kumawat Kshatriya' belongs to Kumhar Sub-caste, after completing construction they were given the name 'Naik' by the Peshwa.
Even if the main gates were to be forced open, a charging army would need to turn sharply right, then sharply left, to pass through the gateway and into the central complex. This would provide a defending army with another chance to attack the incoming army, and to launch a counterattack to recapture the gateway.
As the ceremonial gate of the fort, military campaigns would set out from and be received back here, with appropriate religious ceremonies.
Mastani Darwaja (Mastani's Gate) or Aliibahadur Darwaja, facing north
This gate was used by Bajirao I's wife Mastani while travelling out of the palace's perimeter wall.
Khidki Darwaja (Window Gate), facing east
The Khidki Darwaja is named for an armoured window it contains.
Ganesh Darwaja (Ganesh Gate), facing south-east
Named for the Ganesh Rang Mahal, which used to stand near this door. It could be used by ladies at the fort to visit the nearby Kasba Ganapati temple.
Jambhul Darwaja or Narayan Darwaja (Narayan's Gate), facing south
This gate was used by concubines to enter and leave the fort. It obtained its second name after Narayanrao Peshwa's corpse was removed from the fort for cremation through this gate.
I find it hard that a person with such a glorious history is living such a simple life in Pune.
